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New feature: starsky mount watcher cli

· 2 min read
Dion
Dion
Software developer

We added a new CLI service called starskymountwatchercli. It watches for mounted storage devices (like SD cards), checks whether they look like camera media, and starts importing automatically.

This gives you a hands-free ingest flow: plug in card, import starts.

What it does​

  • Watches mount events continuously.
  • Detects camera storage with the same heuristics used by the importer.
  • Starts an import only when the mounted volume is a likely camera card.
  • Supports service mode per operating system.

Why this helps​

If you import frequently, this removes repeated manual steps:

  1. Open the app.
  2. Find the mounted path.
  3. Start import.

With starskymountwatchercli running as a service, the process becomes event-driven.

Camera storage detection​

The watcher does not import every drive. It applies camera-oriented checks first:

  • Mounted volume is ready and accessible.
  • Filesystem is camera-friendly (for example FAT-based media).
  • Camera-like folder structure exists (such as DCIM or other known patterns).

Only after these checks pass, the importer runs.

Service support by platform​

The CLI includes service install and uninstall flows:

  • macOS: launchd LaunchAgent
  • Linux: systemd (system-level, with user-level fallback)
  • Windows: Windows Service via sc.exe

This means the watcher can run in the background without manual startup each time.

CLI usage​

starskymountwatchercli --help
starskymountwatchercli --install
starskymountwatchercli --uninstall

Extra options:

  • --verbose or -v for verbose logging
  • --help or -h for usage and platform-specific hints

Typical workflow​

  1. Install and start the service.
  2. Insert camera SD card or connect camera storage.
  3. Watcher receives mount event.
  4. Camera storage checks pass.
  5. Import starts automatically.

Notes for production use​

  • On macOS, Full Disk Access may be required for stable background operation.
  • On Linux, service logs are available through journalctl.
  • On Windows, service logs can be inspected in Event Viewer.

Final thoughts​

starskymountwatchercli is a small feature with a large practical impact: less clicking, fewer missed imports, and a cleaner ingest pipeline for high-volume photo workflows.